Please join us May 12, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the Coronado Library Winn Room to hear Karin Winner, former editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune, discuss “Fake News” and its effect on our current political and social worlds.

For 16 years Karin Winner served as Vice President/ News & Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune (which won two Pulitzer Prizes under her leadership). She retired in 2010 after 33 years with the U-T.

Today, she chairs the board of inewsource, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization that partners with KPBS, San Diego’s public broadcasting station, and serves on the boards of The Old Globe Theater, San Diego State University’s Campanile Foundation, the KPBS advisory council and the Chancellor’s Community Advisory board at UCSD. She is a member of the Downtown Rotary Club 33, The Wednesday Club, Women Give and the International Women’s Forum. A graduate of The Bishop’s School and the University of Southern California (BA, Journalism), Karin was the recipient of the Ellen Browning Scripps Distinguished Alumna from The Bishop’s School; San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “The Courageous Leadership” award; the outstanding alum award of the USC School of Journalism and a Girl Scouts’ “Cool Women” honoree.

The Club’s next general membership meeting will be held on Sat., Nov. 4 in the Winn Room of the Coronado Public Library. The meeting will begin with coffee and light snacks at 10:30 am; the business portion will be called to order at 11:00 am.

Our program for November will feature our Assembly member, Todd Gloria. He will discuss the Legislature’s accomplishments for 2017 and his agenda for 2018. The presentation will include time for questions and answers.

Also scheduled to appear is Matt Brower, who is challenging censured Judge Gary Kreep for Superior Court. He will introduce himself and seek our endorsement.

We look forward to a most interesting program, and to recognizing the important work that our representatives in Sacramento do every day to advance the interests of all Californians.

The Coronado Democratic Club is known as a group that “Lends A Hand”. Since the 2016 election we have brought hygiene products to Survivors of Torture International and Jewish Family Services, which are groups that work with marginalized members of our community. The club’s next project is with the Iraqi Chaldeans who live in El Cajon.

Within the Chaldean community there is an effort to help people find jobs and engage in job training. A new apprentice program has identified 15 individuals who need proper clothing for professional jobs and or job interviews. To help in this effort, we will collect men’s dress shirts, slacks, shoes, ties and women’s blouses, skirts, slacks, and shoes. A member of the Chaldean community has lined up a tailor to assist in alterations, etc. If you have any of these items you are willing to donate, please bring them in a bag to the September 16 Democratic Club meeting or give Susan Enowitz a call to pick them up, 619-861-5778. Susan will make sure they are delivered.

Today El Cajon has a Chaldean population of over 60,000, which makes this city the home of the second largest Chaldean community in the United States after Detroit. While these refugees have found a safe haven here, the friends or relatives they left behind in Iraq now face what one man calls “a Christian genocide.” New refugees from Syria are landing in El Cajon. Local groups like the Minority Humanitarian Foundation and the Chaldean Democratic Club are doing their best to offer social services. These groups are currently running a campaign to find jobs for refugees and they welcome our help. Won’t you lend a hand?

If you want to learn more about this community and the Chaldean culture, you can visit the exhibit at the New Americans Museum in Liberty Station.

While most of our general meetings are on a Saturday morning, once in awhile we do have an event in the evening. We have some members who would like to attend our meetings or events but need transportation. If any member needs a ride to a meeting or event, please do not hesitate to call any of the board members and we will provide transportation for you.

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the Coronado Democratic Club will not have a GO Team for this year’s mid-term elections. However, you may not have noticed but one Donald J. Trump (so aptly characterized by his former Secretary of State) is still with us as a national embarrassment. Therefore, we encourage everyone, whether you were a GO Team volunteer in years past or not, to get involved. There are multiple opportunities where we can make a difference. Pick a contested race (can anyone say Duncan Hunter?), choose a candidate you like and contact their election headquarters to see where they need help, or volunteer for a phone bank to try and tip the scales blue (Wyoming governor’s race comes to mind). Just to get you started, here are some websites that would provide preliminary information:

Did you know that 16- and 17-year-olds in California can now preregister to vote? According to California’s Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, more than 100,000 teenagers have already done so. This comes in the wake of a nationwide tide of youth activism over gun control that now has young people ready to take their collective power to the polls.

“We are seeing the impact that young people can have when they stand up and engage,” Padilla said in a statement. “Since California launched pre-registration, 100,000 soon-to-be voters have answered the call to participate in their democracy. As Secretary of State, I want to do all we can to encourage civic engagement among our youth.”

According to the Huffington Post, young voters nationwide consistently have some of the lowest election turnouts of any age bracket. Studies have shown preregistration can help boost their numbers. A 2014Duke University study found states that have introduced preregistration laws typically see an increase of youth voter turnout by an average of 2 to 13 percentage points. California is one of 13 states, along with the District of Columbia, that allow citizens as young as 16 years old to preregister to vote, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This preregistration process allows youth to become automatically eligible to vote when they turn 18.

California youth who preregister to vote will have their registration become active once they turn 18 years old. Preregistering allows 16- and 17-year-olds to complete the online voter registration form (www.registertovote.ca.gov), providing sufficient time and opportunity to get ready to vote.

So, if you are the parent, grandparent, relative or friend of a teenager, please encourage preregistration. These young people have the potential to save our democracy. For more information, go to www.sos.ca.gov/elections/pre-register-16-vote-18

On Saturday, April 7, the San Diego County Democratic Party held its 38th Annual Roosevelt Dinner, called “Building the Big Blue Wave,” at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Around 1,000 Democratic leaders, candidates, activists and friends came together to affirm our values, celebrate our successes, honor our heroes, and recommit to fight for equality, justice and opportunity for all.

Among the guests attending were 10 members of the Coronado Democratic Club: Councilwoman Carrie Downey, President Frank King and his wife Joan, Vice-President Tom Bernitt, Treasurer Patrick Callahan and his wife Debbie, Patti and Chuck Charter, Edith Kaspin, and Judy Bambace. The event included a reception, silent auction, three-course dinner, and awards presentation.

The highlight of the evening was keynote speaker Jennifer Granholm, the first woman to be elected as Michigan’s Governor in 2002. She served two terms as Governor, leading a state with a $40 billion annual budget and more than 55,000 employees. She pioneered clean energy innovation and economic development and led Michigan through the national economic crisis in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

Former Governor Granholm gave an impassioned, entertaining and inspiring speech, encouraging us to fight for victory in the upcoming elections and reminding all of us about the fundamental Democratic value of taking care of each other like family.

A very big thank you must go out to eight of our fellow club members who gave up their Saturday morning to register voters. Rather than sleeping late or lounging about with their coffee they were at 3rd and B Street in Civic Theater Plaza meeting, congratulating and registering new citizens who had just completed their Naturalization Ceremony in Golden Hall.

Once a month (on Wednesday mornings) this Naturalization Ceremony takes place in Golden Hall and volunteers are always needed to help these new citizens with the process of registering to vote. Our club had committed to having volunteers there once a year, however any of us can volunteer to help when it is convenient for you. Take along a friend on any of the following dates. They will be 4/18/18, 5/16/18, (both meet at 10:00 AM) 6/20/18 & 7/11/18 (will have two sessions, 10:00 AM and again at 2:30PM. For more information call or email Mercy Mandelbaum at (619) 435-1911, ycrem613@gmail.com

Yes, it’s time to mark your calendar and join us to march in Coronado’s Fourth of July parade. When you participate in this city-wide event, you demonstrate to our community that there are many Democrats here in Coronado and that we have an active, vibrant club.

So plan now to be a part of this year’s celebration. You, your family and friends can join the fun :
1.Ride a bicycle, or walk, children on scooters or wagons, etc. are welcome too.
2. We have electric cars and a convertible

We supply the decorations. All you’ll need to do is RSVP your participation and then pick up festive 4th decorations during the week before the parade at 442 I Ave, Coronado.

You will receive an email with the location and time we’ll meet prior to the parade.

On parade day we encourage everyone to wear any past Democratic Club tee shirt you may have whether you are in the parade or a spectator. So get out those old shirts and get them ready for the big day.

Further details will be forthcoming. If you need to ride in a car, want to RSVP, and/or have questions, contact Patti Flores-Charter at (H) (619) 437-1952 (C) (619) 206-7450 or ccnado@san.rr.com

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and the rest of our city on July 4th.

“The partisan primary system, which favors more ideologically pure candidates, has contributed to the election of more extreme officeholders and increased political polarization. It has become a menace to governing.”
— Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

During my conversations with fellow Democrats, the subject of ideological purity v. winning elections occasionally arises. We in California are fortunate to have all statewide constitutional offices, and majorities of both houses of the Legislature and our Congressional delegation safely in the hands of the Democratic Party.

Primary election voters of both Democratic and Republican parties often have a tendency to vote for the most ideologically pure candidate. This isn’t necessarily a problem in states or districts where the general election outcome isn’t in doubt; however, in “swing” states or districts, general election voters (including independents) may prefer candidates who reside closer to the center of the ideological spectrum.

Some election reforms have been tried in an effort to moderate primary election outcomes. One is the “open” primary, in which any voters may vote in a party’s primary election. Another is the “top-two” primary (sometimes called “jungle” primary), in which candidates from all parties are grouped together on one ballot, and the two candidates receiving the most votes advances to the general election. California is one of three states that uses a top-two primary in partisan elections (the others are Louisiana and Washington; Nebraska uses an open primary for its officially non-partisan legislative races).

The idea behind “open” and “top-two” primary elections was that if all voters, not just those registered with a particular party, could vote for any party’s candidates, it would result in more moderate candidates advancing to the general election. Whether this is the case remains a subject of intense research and discussion among political scientists.

In recent special elections, those Democratic candidates who managed to get elected in traditionally Republican states or districts held positions that hewed more closely to their electorate’s beliefs than Democratic candidates one might find in a Democratic stronghold. In California, we have an opportunity to “flip” a number of Congressional seats from “red” to “blue;” two of these are all or partially in San Diego County. Would an ideologically pure candidate or one who is perceived to be more moderate have a better chance of winning such a contest?

Some primary voters “sincerely” vote for candidates who adhere to their own personal beliefs; other, “strategic” voters will try to elect the candidate who has the best chance of winning the general election for their party. Which kind of voter are you?

Please join us March 10, 2018 for our annual luncheon at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course Dining facility. Doors will open at 11:30 and lunch will be served at noon.

Our speaker will be Mr. Michael Smolens of the San Diego Union Tribune. Mr. Smolens, after a few opening remarks, would like to conduct an inter-active question and answer forum so that he can specifically address your concerns about a range of issues. So, although as Democrats we are somewhat shy, reticent, and unwilling to ask hard, probing questions, let’s surprise Mr. Smolens with the fact that in Coronado, inquiring minds want to know.

Michael Smolens is a columnist for the Union-Tribune with a long history of political coverage. He was government and politics editor at the U-T from 1992 until late 2017. During that time, he has overseen local, state and national political news. As a reporter, he covered politics at all levels, including San Diego City Hall, and did a four-year stint in the news organization’s Sacramento bureau in the late 1980’s. A native of Wellesley, Mass., Smolens graduated from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, where he majored in English and journalism. Smolens also attended Elmira College in New York and was a goalie on the school’s hockey team. Declining reflexes persuaded him not to seek a career in the NHL.

You can purchase your tickets online here. Or if you prefer to pay by Check you can click here to download the reservation form.

Another busy year is over and it is once again time to renew your club membership. It surely is true that “time flies when you’re having fun” or when you’re involved in keeping our club strong and vibrant. Your support is greatly appreciated. Our club dues are important for many reasons some of which include the purchase of supplies, special projects and events, gifts or presentations and most importantly to demonstrate how strong we are as a club. This last is especially important when finding speakers for our meetings and in dealing with other clubs.

Our membership year runs from January 1 to December 31. Please fill out the membership application found in this newsletter and send it along with your check as soon as possible. Remember that now you can also pay your dues on line by going to our web-site and following the instructions.

Last, but not least, consider volunteering for any of the committees listed on the application. We are always in need of help. If any of your personal information, (email address, phone number etc.) has changed since last year please bring that to our attention so that our records will be up to date and you will not be left out of the “information loop”.

If you have questions or want additional applications for your family or friends please email Mercy Mandelbaum at ycrem613@gmail.com or call (619) 435-1911.